Electrical switch for use on a seat belt reel with diameter sensing and switch actuator means

ABSTRACT

Electrical switch for use with seat belt reel comprises a lowprofile triangular housing having one switch arm extending along one side of housing, around an apex, and along an adjacent side. The other switch arm extends along the adjacent side. The second switch arm is moved against the first switch arm to close the switch by a pin which extends from the reel into the housing.

United States Patent Loose [4 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] ELECTRICAL SWITCHFOR USE ON A [56] References Cited SEAT BELT REEL WITH DIAMETER UNITEDSTATES PATENTS SENSING AND SWITCH ACTUATOR MEANS 3,340,523 9/ l 967Wh1tman ..340/278 3,375,495 3/1968 Burns..; ..340/278 X [721 r 3,381,2684/1968 Boblitz ..340/27s x g i 3,504,336 3/1970 Boblitz ..340/278 [73]Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. 3,506,305 4/1970 Eineman,Jr. et al.....34 0/52 E 17105 UX [22] Filed: Dec. 6 1971 3,519,7717/1970 Burns ..200/61.58 B [21] Appl. -Z 0 ,862 Primary Examiner-J. R.Scott Related Us. Application Data Attorney-Wflham J. Keatmg et a1. [62]Division of Ser. No. 167,061, Aug. 17, 1971, [57] ABSTRACT Electricalswitch for use with seat belt reel comprises 52 us. c1. ..200/52 R,ZOO/61.16 "P "iangulal Musing t switch 511 1111. C1. ..H01h 35/00, HOlh25/14 extendmg we an apex Field of Search ..180/82; ZOO/61.16, 61.58 B;242/107 SB; 280/150 SB; 297/388; 340/52 E, 278

and along an adjacent side. The other switch arm extends along theadjacent side. The second switch arm is moved against the first switcharm to close the switch by a pin which extends from the reel into thehousing.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure ELECTRICAL SWITCH FOR USE ON A SEAT BELT REELWITH DIAMETER SENSING AND SWITCH ACTUATOR MEANS This application is adivision of application, Ser. No. 5

167,061, filed Aug. 17, 1971 now US. Pat. No.

3 ,632,059 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the invention, asshown in the accompanying drawing comprises agenerallytriangular plastichousing or switch body 70 having a cover 86. The housing is securedagainst one frame plate 8 of the retractor reel by a metallic fastener124 and a plastic fastener 133 which is integral with the housing. Themetallic fastener also functions to electrically connect one of theelectrical contacts to the frame plate 8. A pair of normally closedcontacts 90, 1 10 are contained in the housing.'The one contact 90extends along the side 84 of the housing, follows the apex formedbysides 80, 84 of the housing, follows the apex formed by sidesv80, 84 andalong side 80. The other contact 110 extends along side 80 past the endof contact 90.

The switch is controlled by a pin 62 which extends through alignedarcuate slots in side plate 8 and the fioor of the plastic housing. Thispin is a part of the control mechanism of the reel and moves between twopositions which are at theends of the slots. When the pin is in theposition of the drawing, the switch is closed. When the pin moves to theright from the positionshown, contact 110 moves away-from the end ofcontact 90 by'virtue of its resilience and the switch is opened. 7

Specific details of the structure of the switch and the reel aresetforth in US. Pat. No. 3,632,059.

What is claimed is: v

1. An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat beltassembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frameplate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin beingmovable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a secondposition at the other end thereof after withdrawal of belting from saidassembly, said switch comprising:

an insulating housing comprising abase, a cover, and sidewalls extendingbetween said base and cover,

a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having dimensions whichare at least equal to the dimensions of said frame slot,

first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extendingtowards and around the one end of said housing slot which corresponds tosaid one end of said frame slot and extending transversely away fromsaid housing slot,

said second arrn normally extending in spaced relationship to said firstarm and transversely across said housing slot, said second arm beingresiliently movable towards, and into engagement with, said first armwhereby upon mounting said switch against said frame plate of said seatbelt assembly with said frame slot in registry with said housing slot,said pin will extend through said said first arm when said pin is insaid first position, and

said second arm will be spaced from said first arm when said pin is insaid second position.

2. An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seatbelt-assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in saidframe plate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin beingmovable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a secondposition at the other end thereof after withdrawal of belting from saidassembly, said switch comprising:

. a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housingcomprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said baseand cover,

a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having I one end which isadjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a secondend which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slotconforming in shape to said frame slot,

first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extendingalong one side of said housing towards said one apex, around said oneend of said housing slot, and generally along the side of said housingwhich is adjacent to said one side and which extends from said one apex,

said second arm normally extending in spaced relationship to saidadjacent side and towards said one side and transversely across saidhousing slot, said second arm beingresiliently movable towards saidadjacent side and into engagement with said first arm whereby, uponmounting said switch against said frame plate of said seat belt assemblywith said frame slot in registry with said housing slot, said switcharms will be against each other and said switch will be closed when saidpin is in said first position, and said second arm will be in its normalposition and said switch will be open when said pin is in said secondposition. v

3. A switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said contact arms hasan integral mounting portion, said mounting'portion being adapted toreceive a'metallic fastener to mechanically connect said switch to saidframe plate and to selectively electrically connect said one arm to saidframe plate. a

4. A switch as set forth in'claim 3 wherein said one contact armcomprises saidsecond arm.

5. An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat beltassembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frameplate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin beingmovable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a secondposition at the other end thereof after withdrawl of belting from saidassembly, said switch comprising:

a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housingcomprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said baseand cover,

a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having one end which isadjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a secondend which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slotconforming in shape to said frame slot,

first and second contact arms in said housing, said first arm extendingalong one side of said housing towards said one apex, around said oneend of said housing slot, and generally along the side of said housingwhich is adjacent to said one side and which extends from said one apex,

said second arm normally extending in spaced relationship to saidadjacent side and towards said one side and transversely across saidhousing slot, said second arm being resiliently movable towards saidadjacent side and into engagement with said first arm,

' said second am having an integral mounting portion,

an opening in said mounting portion and an opening in said base, saidopenings being in alignment with each other, and

a mounting projection integral with, and extending from, said base, saidmounting projection being said one end of said housing slot so that saidswitch willbe closed, and said second arm will be permitted to move awayfrom said first arm when said pin is at said other end of said housingslot to open said switch.

1. An electrical switch intended for use with a retraction seat beltassembly, said assembly having a frame plate, a frame slot in said frameplate, and a pin extending through said frame slot, said pin beingmovable from a first position at one end of said frame slot to a secondposition at the other end thereof after withdrawal of belting from saidassembly, said switch comprising: AN INSULATING HOUSING COMPRISING ABASE, A COVER, AND SIDEWALLS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID BASE AND COVER, AHOUSING SLOT IN SAID BASE, SAID HOUSING SLOT HAVING DIMENSIONS WHICH AREAT LEAST EQUAL TO THE DIMENSIONS OF SAID FRAME SLOT, FIRST AND SECONDCONTACT ARMS IN SAID HOUSING, SAID FIRST ARM EXTENDING TOWARDS ANDAROUND THE ONE END OF SAID HOUSING SLOT WHICH CORRESPONDS TO SAID ONEEND OF SAID FRAME SLOT AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AWAY FROM SAID HOUSINGSLOT, SAID SECOND ARM NORMALLY EXTENDING IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAIDFIRST ARM AND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID HOUSING SLOT, SAID SECOND ARMBEING RESILIENTLY MOVABLE TOWARDS, AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH, SAID FIRSTARM WHEREBY UPON MOUNTING SAID SWITCH AGAINST SAID FRAME PLATE OF SAIDSEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WITH SAID FRAME SLOT IN REGISTRY WITH SAID HOUSINGSLOT, SAID PIN WILL EXTEND THROUGH SAID HOUSING SLOT AND SAID SECOND ARMWILL BE HELD AGAINST SAID FIRST ARM WHEN SAID PIN IS IN SAID FIRSTPOSITION, AND SAID SECOND ARM WILL BE SPACED FROM SAID FIRST ARM WHENSAID PIN IS IN SAID SECOND POSITION.
 2. An electrical switch intendedfor use with a retraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having aframe plate, a frame slot in said frame plate, and a pin extendingthrough said frame slot, said pin being movable from a first position atone end of said frame slot to a second position at the other end thereofafter withdrawal of belting from said assembly, said switch comprising:a generally triangular housing of insulating material, said housingcomprising a base, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said baseand cover, a housing slot in said base, said housing slot having one endwhich is adjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot havinga second end which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slotconforming in shape to said frame slot, first and second contact arms insaid housing, said first arm extending along one side of said housingtowards said one apex, around said one end of said housing slot, andgenerally along the side of said housing which is adjacent to said oneside and which extends from said one apex, said second arm normallyextending in spaced relationship to said adjacent side and towards saidone side and transversely across said housing slot, said second armbeing resiliently movable towards said adjacent side and into engagementwith said first arm whereby, upon mounting said switch against saidframe plate of said seat belt assembly with said frame slot in registrywith said housing slot, said switch arms will be against each other andsaid switch will be closed when said pin is in said first position, andsaid second arm will be in its normal position and said switch will beopen when said pin is in said second position.
 3. A switch as set forthin claim 2 wherein one of said contact arms has an integral mountingportion, said mounting portion being adapted to receive a metallicfastener to mechanically connect said switch to said frame plate and toselectively electrically connect said one arm to said frame plate.
 4. Aswitch as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one contact arm comprisessaid second arm.
 5. An electrical switch intended for use with aretraction seat belt assembly, said assembly having a frame plate, aframe slot in said frame plate, and a pin extending through said frameslot, said pin being movable from a first position at one end of saidframe slot to a second position at the other end thereof after withdrawlof belting from said assembly, said switch comprising: a generallytriangular housing of insulating material, said housing comprising abase, a cover, and sidewalls extending between said base and cover, ahousing slot in said base, said housing slot having one end which isadjacent to one apex of said housing, said housing slot having a secondend which is centrally disposed on said base, said housing slotconforming in shape to said frame slot, first and second contact arms insaid housing, said first arm extending along one side of said housingtowards said one apex, around said one end of said housing slot, andgenerally along the side of said housing which is adjacent to said oneside and which extends from said one apex, said second arm normallyextending in spaced relationship to said adjacent side and towards saidone side and transversely across said housing slot, said second armbeing resiliently movable towards said adjacent side and into engagementwith said first arm, said second arm having an integral mountingportion, an opening in said mounting portion and an opening in saidbase, said openings being in alignment with each other, and a mountingprojection integral with, and extending from, said base, said mountingprojection being adapted to enter an opening in said frame platewhereby, upon mountIng said switch against said frame plate by means ofsaid mounting projection and a metallic fastener which is adapted toextend through said frame plate and said aligned openings and with saidhousing slot in alignment with said frame slot, said pin will extendinto said housing, and said second contact arm will be held against saidfirst contact arm when said pin is at said one end of said housing slotso that said switch will be closed, and said second arm will bepermitted to move away from said first arm when said pin is at saidother end of said housing slot to open said switch.